I play SSP, but using a server (for a few reasons, but I do quite like having it running, and the less stress on low-spec machines), but I can't say that I've ever really worried too much about the spawn-loading thing. Sure, you get the addition of a "free" chunkloader, but you are much more restricted in where you settle, and it's unlikely that you can utilise those advantages until the point at which you probably have a chunkloader anyway.
I'll usually spend a bit of time roaming the countryside looking for particular characteristics, typically centred around one or two mods. For example, if I manage to find a village with an apiarist quickly, I'll be on the lookout for somewhere with a convergence of biomes, to make bee-breeding easier. Or I might be keeping an eye out for silver/greatwood trees, in order to make sure that there is a node or two around that I can use for the early TC3 stuff. Or maybe I'm just looking for somewhere fairly flat and clear, to make a decent base.
I am, however, rapidly starting to look for apatite as one of the primary first things. The veins may be able to keep you going for a while but it's quite difficult to find, usually.